sims2mods.com
The kinds of Sims 2 custom content
| Type | What it is | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Recolor (also retexture, reskin, alpha edit) | A new texture on an existing shape | Nothing else if it recolors a Maxis item. Many object recolors also need the CEP |
| Mesh | A new 3D shape: a new dress, hairstyle, couch | The mesh file plus at least one recolor |
| Default replacement | Replaces a game texture everywhere, such as all skins or eyes | Only one per item. Some depend on a matching non-default set |
| Lots and Sims | Houses and premade Sims, as .sims2pack files | An installer such as the Clean Installer |
| Hacks | Mods that change behavior | The expansion the creator lists |
The mesh is the shape; recolors are the textures that sit on it. A recolor of a custom dress without the dress's mesh will not show up. Recolor pages usually name or link the mesh they need: get it from that link.
Where to find Sims 2 CC
- Mod The Sims: the largest free Sims 2 archive, with the creator's notes and required meshes on each page.
- The Sims Resource: a big Sims 2 section, free with ads and a short wait. The paid VIP plan removes both.
- Creators' own Tumblr pages and sites. Many Sims 2 creators still post there, and some host their files on Sim File Share. Follow the link from the creator's post rather than searching the host.
Skip download mirrors and "mega packs" that bundle other people's work. Many are scraped copies. The creator's own page has the current file and names the mesh it needs.
Turn custom content on
- Open Game Options (the gear button) and set Catalogs Display Custom Content to on.
- Set Display Custom Content Dialog at Startup to off so the warning stops appearing.
- Quit the game completely and start it again. Mod The Sims says you often need to do this twice before everything appears.
If the settings don't stick, close the game and open userProps.xml in the Config folder of your user folder with Notepad. The line with allowCustomContent must end in true, and the line with disableCustomObjects must end in false. Save it, and make sure Windows didn't rename it to userProps.xml.txt.
Free · no download · LifeSim
Your style, no meshes to hunt down.
LifeSim is a free life simulator in the browser and on iPhone. Type who you are, or upload a photo for your look, and the game draws the character and starts the life in a real city. You can also import your Sims 2 household.
CC missing or looks wrong?
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A recolor never shows up | Its mesh is missing | Go back to the recolor's page and download the linked mesh |
| Black "gloves" on bodies, white writing on scalps | A default skin that needs a non-default set you don't have | Download the matching non-default set from the same creator, or remove the default |
| Faces and bodies don't match | Two default skins at once, or a badly made one | Keep one. Search Downloads for "default": most creators put it in the file name |
| "Requires expansion pack data that is not installed" | The lot or Sim uses a pack you don't have | Legacy and Ultimate have all eight expansions; on Legacy, items from IKEA Home Stuff are missing |
| Long loading times | Too much CC | Remove what you don't use. Mod The Sims knows of no hard limit, but load time grows with every file |
Still stuck? Move Downloads to the desktop, test with a few files you know work, then add your own back in halves until the bad file shows itself. Folder setup and installers are in how to install Sims 2 mods, and Legacy-specific problems in Legacy Collection mods.
FAQ
Is there a limit on Sims 2 custom content?
The game has no known limit. Old FAT32 drives cap a single folder at 65,517 files, so use subfolders there; NTFS drives have no practical cap.
How do I stop the custom content warning at startup?
In Game Options, set Display Custom Content Dialog at Startup to off. The setting exists from Nightlife on, and both the Legacy and Ultimate Collection include Nightlife.
Can I use Sims 3 or Sims 4 CC in Sims 2?
No. Each game has its own .package format, so files from later games don't work.